Eating Droppings.

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Fanatical

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I am concerned as my horse has started to eat his own droppings. I had seen 'evidence' of him eating them over the last couple of months (as they looked nibbled at!) but tonight when I arrived he was litterally there eating them in front of me...even when I got the headcollar on I had to pull him away from it!

I am concerned as many years ago I had a mare who had quite a few colic/ gut problems and she ate her droppings.

I have had my current horse for over 5 1/2 years and he has never done this before.

Anyone know anything about this?
 
Hi ChicoMio...no he hasn't - that's one thing I thought of this evening and thought I'd give it a try. He has salt added to his feed during the summer but I've never given him a lick before. Will definitely get one though and see if it makes a difference.
 
I'd start him on a course of pre and probiotics. Droppings contain some of the bacteria that live in the horse's gut so eating droppings can re-populate the horse's digestive system. Has your horse had a recent course of antibiotics - they can change the balance of gut flora. Or if he's been stressed in some way he could have low grade inflammation of the stomach/gut - eating droppings can be the horse's response as it tries to deal with a belly ache. Most reputable feed companies have a pre-pro biotic product. Yea Sac might also be beneficial as it helps hind gut digestion.

Some horses eat droppings as a response to a sterile and unnatural environment or management system. I wouldn't ignore it - it's a symptom of something that needs addressing.
 
Thanks Box_of_Frogs. The mare I referred to went on pro-biotics in the end and that seemed to sort her out.

I moved yards in the spring and he now has much less turnout (which I don't like but don't have much choice at the moment) than he used to - I'm convinced it's down to this and it's a lack of minerals or something that he would usually get from the grass.

I will get him a lick and possibly speak to the vet about pro-biotics etc and see what happens.
 
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